For those new to purchasing firewood, your might be wondering what all the different names mean. There are a variety of options when buying wood for fires.
Sentence order: You will hear many different names referred to the various sizes of firewood that retailers sell, and you may not know their meaning or size differences without asking.
Source: backyardboss.net
Terms that are used to measure wood vary, so you may hear about a “rick” of wood.
Firewood is often sold in “ricks,” giving buyers the convenience to do away with difficult calculations and measurements. Also, Rick always being defined as a certain number of cubic feet, meaning purchasers know precisely what they are buying.
What Is a Rick of Wood?
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A rick of wood is a stack of firewood that is four feet tall and eight feet long. The widths can vary if the firewood supplier you choose also varies as well.
Rick of wood can be measured in either 12-, 16-, or 24-inch options, meaning the logs of firewood within each stack will measure one of these lengths.
What is the most common size for firewood logs? They are usually around 16 inches.
Where Does “Rick” Come From?
Source: wikipedia.org
The term “rick” has roots in old English, meaning a pile or stack. It tends to refer to things that could be stacked on a farm, such as wood, corn, hay and other items.
It was introduced to North America and is still quite common in the Midwest region.
A cord of wood is usually large enough for a stack that is about four feet high by four feet wide and eight-feet long. This will give you an idea as to how big a rick can be, which is slightly smaller than the full cord. A full cord generally measures 48 inches wide.
This is a helper for comparing the rick to cords. A 12-inch wide rick equates to ¼ of a cord, 16 inches equals one third and 24 inches is equal to ½.
To choose the best firewood, you must carefully measure its width. This measurement might be off by a few inches as some sellers use different measurements from region to region.
When selecting a rick of wood, it’s crucial to take the time to evaluate just how much you might need and call your vendor before finalizing anything.
What Does a Rick of Wood Weigh?
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There is no universal weight for a rick of firewood. The unusual wood type also impacts the weight, and you might consider speaking to your seller about this when considering what size to buy. Lighter ricks can be closer to 1,000 lbs while heavier types are up in the 2-3 tons range (or 6,000 lbs).
Lighter types of firewood are spruce trees. If you calculate in a full cord, it is about 1 ton/$2,500 but there is some width variance to the number as with all things. For example, a 625-pound load could be on the lighter end if your trunk was smaller (i.e., used for framing).
How Many Pieces Are in a Rick of Wood?
Source: firewood-for-life.com
A cord consists of a number of pieces, depending on the density. Most commonly there are 550 to 650 pieces in a cord, although it can be as low as 275 or high at 325.
When you’re thinking about what type of wood to purchase for your fireplace, don’t stop at the store. Find out from the supply company ahead of time if they have enough in stock before you order it so that not only do you know how much is available, but also which types are available to suit your needs.
What Will a Rick of Wood Cost?
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There’s no set price for a rick of wood; the cost varies depending on where you purchase it and what type. A typical face cord, however, is about $150-250.
A budget can be set without spending over the recommended price so that you have enough wood to get through the winter. A rick of wood in retail stores is generally priced per pound, sold in bundles and delivered with additional delivery fees depending on how far it needs to be transported.
A mileage-based pricing scheme often goes into your transportation cost but ends up having the distance driven by the company before charging you. This can be an appealing offer for first time customers, but remember that this will have to go on top of your budget or it’ll end up being a less than desirable price surprise.
Some vendors may accept your wood on a flat bed and stack it for you, but they may charge a stacking fee. Others offer free stacking services. Make sure to verify the requirements before completing your order.
Storing Your Firewood
Source: mybackyardlife.com
Purchasing firewood can be an expensive purchase. Depending on how your firewood is stored, it may go unused and become too expensive to light a wood stove or fireplace.
One option for storing the wood you’ve purchased is to stack it yourself. You want to have a plan of what measurement you will use before purchasing your firewood
It’s important to keep the wood pile close and covered at all times. Wet or green logs have many more steps that must be preformed before they can be used as firewood than split pieces of wood do.
A rick of wood is a stack of logs that are often made so they can be carried or moved easily. Properly oriented logs will also burn efficiently and save you money on gas or electric appliances.
Firewood needs to circulate air to dry. If it is wet or green, you’ll want to find an open area with high ceilings so the wood can fly. How quickly the wood dries all depends on how you stack it and if it’s off the ground or near the ground.
When it comes to keeping your firewood off the ground, there are three options: bricks, logs, and pallets. The most common is row stacking with cross-ties at each end of the stack.
Cross-tying is one way of strengthening the ends of a stack; in order to make it more secure, try to use pieces that are as close to square or block shape.
Save time by not having to deal with the hassle of stacking a pile of logs up and making sure they are securely tied.
Another thing to avoid is stacking your firewood between trees. Even though you may think the tree will hold, movement from a sapling or larger tree can cause the firewood stacks to topple over.
The fastest way to dry wood is single row stacking–though you can also try the circle or heap methods.
Stacking wood, or any other object for that matter, can become bothersome when you stack more than one row. Make sure to leave a good amount of space between each row; it is important that they have enough room for proper air circulation.
Firewood stacking is a science and an art form. Experts have studied firewoods safety for generations, so that they can stack their wood with the highest levels of safe storage. Get imaginative and come up with your own way to store yours!
Stacking firewood can be a difficult task, but it is important to remember that the appearance of your stack will make an impression on those who see it. If you want people in your neighborhood to think highly of you and how well-maintained your property is, then take time with stacking the wood so everyone can appreciate what they may not have been able to before.
Racks, Holders, and What to Burn
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It’s often said that the best wood to burn is dried. Greenwood, on the other hand, can produce more smoke than most people want in their home or backyard. Consider this when you’re stacking your fire too; if it’s hard for you to reach down into a pile of logs without breaking them then they might not be dry enough and will take longer to light anyways so why bother?
Rotating is a good idea too. So, you know how the old wood in your stack will rot over time? Yeah, don’t let that happen and just burn it! Otherwise pieces of cord or rick are going to go to waste.
Rotating may sound like an easy way out but trust me-you’ll want all of those logs so I recommend burning some from the oldest end first before they start rotting away too much
Stacking firewood can be difficult and tedious work. Fortunately, there are various holders and racks that make it easier to cleanly stack wood without the use of nails or screws. While you might prefer a large shed for storage, these possibilities enable your indoor garage space to also provide extra room for tools as well!
The larger a pile of firewood is, the more bad insects that might be attracted to it and you may find bark pieces which cause dirt or debris. Besides, if there’s pollen on your wood (which there will be), it can trigger allergies for some people.
When you need to prepare wood for burning or storage, it is important that the wood be dry. If wet firewood gets brought into your home there’s a chance that the trapped moisture can lead to higher levels of humidity in your house which can make things uncomfortable at best and potentially dangerous if left untreated.
Final Thoughts
Source: blogs.scientificamerican.com
Now that you know the different types of wood in a cord or rack, as well as how much they cost, you can plan for the winter ahead. Firewood makes for a less expensive source of heat than gas depending on where you live and could make your home feel more cozy during the long winter months.
The use of firewood is a chore that can be made easier by the right planning and some hard work. It will take good organization, sturdy stacking techniques, and plenty of patience to get through winter with success!
With everything you need to keep your home warm during the cold winter, you can focus on enjoying time with your friends and family.